Valve for steam iron



y 22, 1956 M. M. KISTNER 2,746,183

VALVE FOR STEAM IRON Filed Feb. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 66 II] I62 61 //////7r 4 2 1 2 6.9

I INVENTOR ATTORNE 5 May 22, 1956 KISTNER 2,746,183

VALVE FOR STEAM IRON Filed Feb. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5 38 INVENTOR ing knob flush with the top of the handle.

United States Patent Otlice VALVE FOR STEAM moN Merrill Miller Kismet, St. Petersburg, Fla, assignor to Steam Iron Corporation, Treasure Island, Plan, a corporation of Florida Application February 21, 1951, Serial No. 211,998

3 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam irons and is an improvement over the iron disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,384,839, granted September 18, 1945.

An iron of the type disclosed in said patent consists of a sole plate having a heating element and channels through which steam passes to superheat the steam, a reservoir to deliver Water to the sole plate, with valve control means, and a handle.

in an iron constructed specifically as disclosed in my prior patent with the reservoir and sole plate connected at the nose end by means which forms a part of the valve assembly, the parts cannot be readily disassembled. Therefore, if .the iron fails to properly function, it is necessary to return it to the factory for repair and the owner is without the services of the iron for an indefinite period.

In the present invention I provide an improved and simplified means for securing the reservoir to the sole plate at the nose end of the iron. The construction herein disclosed permits disassembly of an iron by a dealer and replacement of one of the parts, such as the sole plate assembly, the valve assembly or the like. This permits the dealer to repair an iron or replace a worn or defective part with a minimum of inconvenience to the user.

I also provide improved valve means in which the construction is simplified, a better functioning valve is provided, and filling of the reservoir is made easier. The iron is provided with a filling opening on the front of the handle and is filled when it is in an up-ended position. A tubular member extends through the front leg of the handle and communicates with the top of the reservoir. This member houses the valve stem which has an operat- The valve stem is a tubular member having suitable openings therein for venting air from the reservoir. Surrounding the tubular member l provide a sleeve which, when the iron is tip-ended, exposes openings in the tubular member in alignment with the opening in the handle for admission of water. When the iron is in normal operating position, this sleeve falls by gravity to a position covering these openings.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a' reversible cord attaching device. Some users of irons prefer to have the cord extending from the right side and others prefer to have it extending from the left side.

Heretofore it was necessary to replace the attaching member on the end of the cord to reverse it from one side to the other. I provide a member which may be mounted in either of two positions and which has its terminal connections so arranged that they will engage the terminals on the back of the iron in either position.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view of the iron;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

2,746,183 Patented May 22, 1956 Fig. 4 is a detailed, sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view of the rear leg of the handle of the iron with the cord connector removed, but indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the inner face of the connecting member on the end of the cord;

Fig. 8 is a detailed, sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the valve seat and cooperating valve member; and

Fig. 10 is a side view of the iron in up-ended position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the sole plate of the iron. The sole plate may be of similar construction to that shown in my prior patent. It is provided with a polished ironing face 2 and may be of the general shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings providing a nose 3 and a heel 4.

The explosion chamber 5 is arranged in the sole plate, the explosion chamber receiving water from a reservoir arranged over it in a manner to be hereinafter described. The explosion chamber is provided with an outlet 6 communicating with a series of passages 7 through which the steam passes, for super-heating, to outlets (not shown) for discharge of steam on to the fabric being ironed. In the sole plate there is arranged a heating element 3 which is of rod-like form and structure and which extends from two points 9 and it? adjacent the heel of the iron substantially parallel to the sides, forming a loop around the explosion chamber as disclosed in my prior patent.

A shell 11, suitably shaped to form substantially vertical walls 12 and a flat top 13, is mounted over the sole plate. A reservoir 14 for water is arranged within the shell. A handle 15, consisting of a horizontal or gripping portion 16, a front leg 17 and a rear leg 18, is mounted over the shell 11.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the front leg 17 of the handle is in alignment with the explosion chamber 5 and the valve mechanism to control the flow of water from the reservoir to the explosion chamber is mounted in the handle and also serves to secure the handle, shell and reservoir to the sole plate at the nose end of the iron. These parts are shown in greater detail in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings. As shown, a boss 19 extends above the surface of the sole plate surrounding the explosion chamber and this boss is provided with external threads 20. These threads are adapted to be engaged by the threads of a connecting nut 21. The connecting nut is provided with a central threaded opening 22 extending through a tubular portion 23 of the nut. The bottom 24 of the reservoir 14 is provided with an opening 25 and a sleeve nut 26 is arranged within the reservoir and received in the nut 21. As shown, the sleeve nut is provided with threads to engage the threads 22 and is enlarged at its upper portion to form a shoulder 27. A suitable packing or gasket 28 is arranged around the opening 25, between the upper face of the connecting nut 21 and the shoulder 27. Above the bottom of reservoir 24, the nut is provided with ports 28 to permit water to flow from the reservoir into the bore 34 of tubular nut 26.

Bore 34- is provided with a valve seat 29 to receive a valve member 39. Valve member 30 is formed on a stem 31 and the upper end of this stem carries a ball 32. Ball 32 is received in a housing 33 and this housing is movable in an enlargement in the upper end of the bore 34 of tubular nut 26. Its downward movement is limited by the shoulder 35 at the bottom of the enlargement of the bore. Housing 33 is in turn threaded to a tubular or hollow valve stem 36 which extends upwardly through the reservoir and handle.

The valve and valve seat are constructed to increase the flow of water as the valve is opened. As shown (see Fig. 9) the valve seat 29 and the valve portion 130 of the stern are at substantially the same .angle.

Beneath the valve seat the nut 26 has a bore 39 which is vcylindrical, whereas the portion 40 of the valve stem beneath the valve member 39, which extends through thi bore, tapers toward the lower end 41. Thus, as the valve is moved upwardly, the space between the lower end 49 of the stem and the bore 39 becomes progressively greater.

The front leg 17 of the handle is recessed to receive the parts of the valve mechanism and water supply. As shown, at the bottom of the leg the recess is cylindrical as at 42 and in the center portion of the leg it i also cylindrical, but of slightly smaller diameter as at 43. The upper portion of the leg is also provided with a cylindrical recess 44 and a flange 45 is formed between the portions 43 and 44 of the recess.

A water intake housing 46 is mounted on the top of the reservoir and is preferably secured to a flange 47 of the reservoir by brazing. This housing engages shoulder '43 formed at the junction of the sections 42 and 43 of the bore when the parts are assembled. it carries a tubular member 49 extending upwardly therefrom and this tubular member is provided with a plurality of openings 59 for filling the reservoir. As shown (see Fig. l) the front surface of the leg 17 is provided with an opening 51 in alignment with the openings by means of which water can be poured into the reservoir when the iron is in the up-ended position shown in Fig. '10 of the drawings. A sleeve 52 surrounds the tubular member 4-9. When the iron is in the normal position, this sleeve falls by gravity to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to cover the openings 50. When the iron is up-ended (as shown in Fig. 10) the tubular member 49 is at a slight incline and sleeve 52 moves to what is normally the upper end of this tubular member, thus uncovering the openings 50 to permit filling.

An externally threaded control member 53 is secured to the upper end of valve stem 36. A hold-down nut engages the threads of the control member. A washer or gasket 54 is arranged between the hold-down nut and the annulus or flange 45. When the nut 55 is in engagement with its seat, the parts, that is the sole plate, 1

reservoir and handle, are secured together at the nose end of the iron. Hold-down nut 55 is provided with a centrally threaded bore 54', the threads of which are engaged by threads of the control member 53. The

upper end of control member 53 is provided with a opening 56 near its lower end and control member 53 is provided with a series of openings 56 communicating with the space beneath the disc 38. The handle is also loosely received in the recess 44, thus providing means for venting of air or steam from the reservoir when the iron is filled. By venting the steam from this point, where nometal parts are, condensation on the exterior of the iron is avoided.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shell extends rear- Wardly beyond the sole plate and is provided with a rear portion 57 which, while slightly curved transversely of the iron, provides two end portions 53 serving as supports when theiron is up-ended as shown in Fig. 10. The handle -at the top of the rear leg 18 is provided with :a projection .59 which cooperates with the sides '58 of the :rear of-the shell to form athird support for the iron when it is in up-ended position. The parts are secured together at the heel end of the iron by supports 60. The lower end 61 of each support receives a screw 62 which is threaded into an opening in a boss 63 of the sole plate. The upper end 64 is provided with an opening aligned with a nut 65 carried by the support. Bolts 65 are passed through openings in the bottom of recess of the handle, open ngs in the shell, and threaded into nuts 65.

A thermostat 6.6 is arranged in the sole plate and has an operating stem 67 which projects upwardly through a sleeve 68 pressed into the reservoir. Above the shell the thermostat is provided with an operating member 69.

The rear leg of the handle is recessed as at 70 to receive the connector 71 (see Fig. 77) mounted on the end of cord 72. As stated, connector 71 is capable of being reversed to arrange the cord on either side. At each side ofthe recess 70, substantially semi-circular recesses 73 are provided (see Fig. 6). Likewise, the connector 71 is provided with semi-circular shaped portions 74 adapted to be received in the recesses 73. The connector 71 is also provided with a central opening 75 which receives a screw 76. The screw 76 engages threads in an opening formed in a boss 77 at the center of recess 70 in the handle to secure the parts together. Thus, it will be seen that the connector 71 may be arranged in one position with the cord extending from one side'of the iron and secured in place by the screw 76, or it may be reversed with the cord at the other side of the iron and secured in position 'by the screw.

In the recess 70! provide a pair of contact members, one disposed above the opening in boss 75 and the other below, the openings being also arranged radially from the opening 75 as a center and at the same angle. Each of these contact posts (see Fig. 8) comprises a threaded portion 78 which is screwed into an opening at the bottom of the recess 70, a nut portion 79 which limits its move: ment into the opening, and a split post 80. The ends of the leads 81 and 82 are provided with ring terminals 83 which are received on contact screws 84. Contact screws 34 are received in threaded openings 85 in the connector member 71. Thus, with the connector member in one position, the lower contact 86 of the connector will engage the lower contact 87 in the recess and the upper contact 88 of the connector will engage the upper contact 39 in the recess with the cord arranged on one side: By turning the connector over to place the cord on the other side, the connectors are reversed but are properly arranged to engage the contacts in the recess when the screw 76 is inserted.

A pair of leads 9%) and 91 extend downwardly from the contacts 87 and '89 and one of these leads is connected by a wire '92 (see Fig. 2) to the end 10 of the heating element. The other lead is connected'by a wire 93 to the thermostat and the thermostat is connected from its other terminal by wire 94 to the end 9 of the heating element.

The sole plate is provided with a seal or cover 95 which forms the top of the channels or passages 7 through which the steam passes. This cover is provided with a flange 96 (see Fig. 4) and is shaped to correspond to the shape of a groove 97 (see Fig. 2) in which the flange is received. The flange extends from the seal at an angle slightly less than a right angle disposing its outer side 98 at an angle to the wall of the groove. When the flange is forced into the groove, a steam-tight seal is produced.

In disassembling the iron, connector 711is removed, permitting access to bolts 65. Removal of these bolts disconnects the shell and handle from the sole plate at the heel of the iron. To disassemble the nose end, knob 38 is first removed. The top of hold-down nut 55 is provided with slots (not shown) to receive a special tool by which it can be removed. The top of sleeve nut '26 is likewise provided withslots (not shown) to e i a special tool which straddles the tubular member 36 and rotates the sleeve nut to remove it from connecting nut 21. Removal of thermostat handle 69 stem 67 permits the sole plate to be separated from the other parts. The handle can also be lifted from the shell and reservoir.

The reversible cord connector disclosed herein forms the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 346,590 filed April 3, 1953, which is a continuation in part of this application.

I claim:

1. In a steam iron comprising a sole plate, a reservoir, and a handle, the front leg of the handle being provided with a bore, a tubular member in the bore communicating with the top of the reservoir, the tubular member being provided with openings, the front leg of the handle being provided with an opening communicating with said openings for filling the reservoir, and a sleeve surrounding the tubular member, the sleeve, when the iron is in ironing position, being positioned at the bottom of the tubular member covering the openings therein.

2. A steam iron having a recess and channels in its upper surface, the recess forming an explosion chamber, a cover arranged over the sole-plate and covering the channels to form steam passages, an externally threaded boss extending upwardly from the surface of the sole-plate in the area surrounding the explosion chamber, the boss having an internal bore communicating with the explosion chamber, a reservoir over the sole-plate, a handle over the reservoir, means for securing the parts together at the heel of the iron, the bottom of the reservoir and the cover being provided with openings positioned over the explosion chamber when the iron is assembled, the handle including a front leg, the front leg having a bore in alignment with the explosion chamber and the opening in the bottom of the reservoir, a nut secured to the threads of the boss of the explosion chamber, a member in the reservoir extending through the opening in the nut and secured to the nut, said member having an enlarged head forming a shoulder engaging the bottom of the reservoir around the opening to clamp it to said nut and having a valve seat, a valve co-operating therewith, a valve stem connected to the valve and extending through the bore of the handle, and an operating knob operatively connected to the valve stem.

3. In a steam iron comprising a sole-plate, a reservoir and a handle, the sole-plate being recessed to form an explosion chamber, an externally threaded boss surrounding the area of the explosion chamber and extending upwardly above the surface of the sole-plate, the boss having an internal bore communicating with the explosion chamber, the bottom of the reservoir having an opening in alignment with said bore, a nut having a threaded bore secured to the boss, a valve seat member in the reservoir received in the bore of the nut, said member having an enlarged head forming a shoulder engaging the bottom of the reservoir around the opening to clamp it to said nut, a valve member co-operating therewith, and a valve stem extending through the reservoir and the handle to the top of the iron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,826 Weeks July 1, 1941 2,308,515 Kistner Jan. 19, 1943 2,317,706 Woodman Apr. 27, 1943 2,384,839 Kistner Sept. 18, 1945 2,499,184 Finlayson Feb. 28, 1950 2,501,028 Charland Mar. 21, 1950 2,587,608 Finlayson Mar. 4, 1952 

